Minnesota state senator Omar Fateh is contending with a significant setback in his campaign for mayor of Minneapolis. The local branch of the Minnesota Democrat-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) recently rescinded its endorsement of his candidacy, following allegations of voting irregularities during the July nominating convention. This decision has raised concerns among Fateh’s supporters, who view it as an undermining of democratic processes.
Fateh, 35, had previously secured the DFL’s endorsement at the Minneapolis convention despite a contentious atmosphere surrounding the voting procedures. Disputes arose over the counting of ballots, including interruptions in electronic ballot counting and discrepancies in paper ballot totals. The internal investigation by the DFL’s Constitution, Bylaws and Rules Committee identified “substantial flaws” in the electronic voting, revealing an undercount of 176 votes in the initial round. This error led to the premature elimination of candidate DeWayne Davis, causing frustration among party members and delegates.
The fallout from the endorsement’s revocation has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters. Graham Faulkner, Fateh’s co-campaign manager, described the DFL’s actions as a “disenfranchisement of thousands of Minneapolis caucus-goers.” Faulkner added that the decision, made by a small group of establishment Democrats, undermines the voice of the community. Former Minnesota House Delegate Hodan Hassan echoed these sentiments, labeling the situation as “sabotage” on social media platform X.
A coalition of over a dozen Democratic state and local lawmakers, including Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, has also voiced their disapproval, suggesting that the party’s reputation may suffer long-term damage as a result of this incident. They argued that the reversal contradicts the will of the voters and could hinder the party’s ability to effectively mobilize for upcoming elections.
Despite the setback, Fateh remains in the race, competing against a field of candidates that includes incumbent Jacob Frey. Frey has faced his own challenges, including low approval ratings that hovered around 30 percent according to polling conducted in May. This is a significant decline from his 51 percent approval rating prior to his re-election bid in 2021. Yet, he has demonstrated strong fundraising capabilities, amassing over $539,000 in July alone, a historic figure for Minneapolis mayoral campaigns.
In contrast, Fateh’s fundraising efforts have lagged, with approximately $269,000 raised through July and only $54,000 remaining in his campaign coffers. Although he lacks the DFL’s endorsement, the city’s ranked-choice voting system offers him a pathway to success, provided he can galvanize support among voters.
Support for Frey remains robust among influential figures, including Senator Amy Klobuchar and Governor Tim Walz. Walz publicly praised Frey for his leadership on housing and public safety issues, emphasizing the importance of continuity in governance. Klobuchar’s support has also been vocal, especially following allegations regarding Fateh’s campaign staff, who reportedly made inflammatory remarks regarding the recent attacks in Israel.
As the mayoral race heats up, the dynamics within the DFL and the broader implications for the Democratic Party in Minneapolis are likely to unfold. The outcome may not only determine the future leadership of the city but also set the tone for party unity ahead of crucial elections in the coming years.